Preparation

1. Remove fat from the chicken. Salt and pepper the chicken. Sprinkle with chili powder. Add yogurt and mix well till the chicken is covered liberally with yogurt. Use your hands. Set aside for 1 hour before cooking. If kept in the refrigerator, set aside for at least 4 hours. 2. Heat oil in a large heavy pan. When oil is hot, add mustard seeds if using mustard seeds. Add cloves, cardamom, and coriander seeds. Fry for 30 seconds. 3. Add the onion and fry for two minutes till onion beings to turn. Lower heat to medium. 4. Add the ginger garlic paste and fry for 4 - 6 minutes. 5. Add mustard powder if using powder, add garam masala, add cumin powder. 6. Brush excess yogurt off the chicken and put in a large pot. Add ingredients from frying pan. Cook uncovered over high heat for 4 minutes. 7. Reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 25 minutes or till the chicken is tender, stirring every 5 minutes. 8. Important note: When chicken is cooked with a cover on the pot, it releases water that becomes a part of the sauce. If after 10 minutes, there isnt enough sauce in the pot, add 1/4 cup water. Conversely if there is too much liquid in the pot, cook uncovered till the liquid evaporates. Variations There are several variations to the above recipe: 1. Leave out the yogurt. Add 1/4 cup of water just before turning the heat to low and covering the pot. 2. Boil two potatoes for 10 minutes before slicing them thinly. Add potatoes into the pot when you start cooking the chicken. 3. This variation is usually called "Malai Chicken" or literally "creamy" chicken. Leave out the yogurt. When the chicken is 3/4 done, add one small can of tomato paste. Just before removing a small carton of whipping cream and cook for a few minutes. Recipe By : Somesh Rao